Book Description

Among the pious faithful of the present day there is a holy desire to know everything that may concern the Blessed Virgin i\Iary, whom God predestined to be the Mother of the Eternal Word, who was to become incarnate for the salvation of men. It seems to us that many souls having an ardent devotion to the august Queen of heaven, will rejoice to read a work which contains a faithful, minute, and complete relation of her marvellous life. Therefore, we are well assured of the welcome which this Life will receive from pious Catholics, who justly glory in living in the age of Mary. What a sweet joy shall it be for children devoted to the august Mother, to know that which constitutes the glory and grandeur of the incomparable Queen of angels and men! According to the designs of His divine providence, God did not manifest all the ineffable mysteries of the life of the august Mary during the first ages of the Church. In fact, it was but right that the law of grace should be established, and the Gospel of Christ promulgated, before the faithful should learn the grandeur, glory, titles and prerogatives of her who was raised above the angels. The holy evangelists themselves were compelled to be silent concerning what they knew of the Mother of God, because the proper time for making it known had not arrived. The human mind is so weak and ignorant, that the manifestation of those mysteries, at a time when the faith and doctrine of the Incarnation were not fully established, would have occasioned much trouble and difficulty. The august Qul'en of heaven made this known to her beloved daughter, Mary of Jesus of Agrcda, in order to explain to her why she l~ad been chosen by God to make known to .the faithful the secret mysteries communicated to her. We will quote the words addressed by the Blessed Virgin to the seraphic servant of God. It is important that they should be read with the utmost attention."I see, my daughter, that thou art astonished that the Evangelists have not written the wonderful things which the Most High operated in my regard. I answer (and desire that my words be engraven on the hearts of all men) that I myself ordered the Evangelists to write of me only that which was necessary to establish the articles of faith, and the precepts of the law of grace. As Mistress of the Church. and from the inspirations of the Most High, I knew it was not proper to reveal more at the first foundation of the Church ."All my prerogatives were included in my dignity of Mother of God, and in what had been said of me, that I was full of grace. But the manifestation of all that remained hidden. Was reserved by Divine Providence for a suitable time, when the faith would be more firmly established. It is true that even from the beginning, the Church has announced some of the mysteries which concern me, but the revelation in its fulness, has been made to thee, although a vile creature, because of the wants of the world in its present unhappy state. For this reason, the Divine Mercy has willed to give to men so efficacious a means, that they may seek their remedy and eternal salvation through my intercession."Before His glorious ascension, the Divine Jesus spoke to the one hundred and twenty persons assembled by Divine Providence to be witnesses of that sacred mystery. They were, in one sense. the entire Church, to whom the Divine Master left His last instructions regarding His Blessed Mother."My dear children," said He, "I return to my Father, from whom I came to save and redeem men. In my stead, I leave you my Mother, who will be your protectress, your advocate, yourconsoler, and your mother."